Digital twins: Representation, Replication, Reality, and Relational (4Rs)

Digital twins hold promise for operational improvement for manufacturers. The use of digital twins in industry requires a significant change in manufacturing practices but is crucial to implementing smart manufacturing technologies and Industry 4.0 principles. Unfortunately, there is no consensus definition of a digital twin which leads to confusion about its essential features and distinction from product models and simulations. This research addresses the confusion surrounding digital twins by creating a generalized framework for creating a digital twin of any system, providing structure to improve communications about the digital twin, and aligning the digital twin's capabilities with its intended purpose. (C) 2021 Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Digital twins hold promise for operational improvement for manufacturers, but their definition and essential features remain unclear. This research provides a generalized framework to address the confusion and improve the communication and application of digital twins.